From Savu to Infrared ? The History and Health Benefits of Saunas
December 14, 2008
The health benefits of saunas are not a recent discovery. The use of steam or smoke baths to cleanse the body and reduce stress has been a part of religious, social, and family traditions in numerous cultures for thousands of years. Native Americans, Russians, Romans, and Mediterranean cultures all had some sort of bathing facilities and rituals that played important roles in both private and public life in those communities. But it is the Finns who are credited with developing the modern sauna.
The Finnish Savu
Historical evidence and records indicate that the Finns built the first wooden saunas over 2000 years ago. The early Finnish sauna was dug into a hill or embankment. As tools and techniques advanced, they were later built above ground using wooden logs. Rocks were heated in a stone fireplace with a wood fire. The smoke from the fire filled the room as the air warmed.
Once the temperature reached desired levels, the smoke was allowed to clear and the bathers entered. The wood smoke aroma still lingered and was part of the cleansing ritual. This type of traditional smoke sauna was called a savu, which means smoke in Finnish.
Conventional Steam Saunas vs. Infrared Saunas
December 13, 2008
The health benefits of steam saunas have been recognized for centuries, beginning with sweat lodges, traditional Finnish saunas, and other methods of heating the body and producing perspiration that cleanses the cells and pores. Typically, a heat source such as a wood, electric or gas sauna stove is used to produce the heat in a sauna. But in recent years, a technology known as far infrared has been used to replace the traditional steam sauna with infrared saunas, and some people feel that the result is superior.
How Does A Far Infrared Sauna Work?
Manufacturers say that far infrared saunas use infrared light to heat the skin directly, rather than warming the air first. In an infrared sauna, a heater produces this radiant energy, which is similar to the heat from the sun. Most of these heaters draw on technology developed in 1965 by Dr. Tadashi Ishikawa, a member of the Research and Development Department of Fuji Medical.
Infrared sauna promoters state that unlike UV radiation or atomic radiation, infrared radiant heat is safe and beneficial. When infrared rays hit your skin, they transfer heat energy, which proponents say penetrates more than an inch and a half into the body to heal and stimulate tissues, making it an effective therapy for arthritis and tissue injuries.
Patios: The New Trend in Home Remodels
December 11, 2008
In years past a patio was sort of a throw on to a home. It was typically a concrete slab to keep your feet clean on your way in or out. Then you’d plunk down a couple of chairs and a table and enjoy your patio when the sun went down. More recently, covered patios have become very popular. Adding a patio or “outdoor living area” to your home is both a great investment and a relaxing extension of your homes interior that you can enjoy all day and all yearlong. You might want to consider the following features.
1: Add an outdoor kitchen to your patio for easy entertaining. When planning your kitchen think about storage, clean up and prep areas. You can buy pre-made outdoor grills with these features or build your own custom kitchen.
2: Patio furnishings can be quite luxurious because they’re protected from the elements. Think outdoor living room with comfortable chairs, lounges, couches and plants all around.
3: If you have a spacious patio you might add a home spa. You can make this a focal point of the patio with container garden landscaping, intimate lighting, tiki torches or candles. It’s sure to be a feature you’ll use year round.
Easy Ways to Increase Your Houses Value
December 10, 2008
Before getting your house valuated think about the list below and if you should implement them to increase your house’s value.
Clean up your house: Clean your house thoroughly. By this I mean do everything humanly possible to cleanse your house. Clean the windows, the sink, vacuum the floor, scrub the toilet, take out the trash, make sure nothing appears to be in a sloppy mess.
Fix what can be seen before what can’t: Quite a few people believe that its important to work on the things you can see before the things you can’t, this attracts more buyers. For example renovate the exterior before the interior before the creaky floor boards. If the house looks like a dump from the outside most people will not be willing to have a look around inside.
Seal the driveway: Do you have a gravel driveway? Do weeds pop up, do you find yourself constantly raking gravel, do find that gravel manages to get into your house, do you get irritated by the loud noise of a car that’s driving on it makes? It may be time to end these problems and increase your houses value by sealing your driveway.
Electrical Safety and Power Tools
December 10, 2008
Power tools are one of the greatest conveniences for getting handyman jobs and professional jobs done quickly, but since power tools often run on electricity, it is essential that safety instructions are followed.
Here are a few quick power tool safety tips.
Tip 1 - Always use the correct power tool for the environment.Power tools that are made for outdoor use have better insulation, heavier wiring and a three way grounded plug.
Tip 2 - Keep your power cord tangle free and away from the tool “action” zone.
Tip 3 - If you get any nicks or cuts in the cord, inspect them immediately. If it severe consider replacing the cord. As a last resort use tape to shield it from the elements for minor nicks.
Tip 4 - Inspect the power cord and all connections regularly for signs of breakage.
Tip 5 - Avoid using electric power tools on wet surfaces as water is a good electrical conductor. In combination with other factors - broken cords, machine malfunctions etc, it can put you at risk of shock.
Tip 6 - Never immerse your power tool in water - seems obvious but has to be said.
Add Value to Your House - Interior Remodelling
December 9, 2008
Interior remodeling can have an amazing impact on the look and value of a house. I would definitely recommend getting professionals to do the job for you unless your good at renovation yourself. Here is some advice on how the get the most bang for your buck when remodeling.
Replace the carpets: One of the best things you can do for your house to improve the feel and value is to replace a dirty and distraught carpet. If there are stains, big chunks missing, and color fading a new carpet is what you need. Again, if the carpet is matched to the theme and style of the room it will look very impressive.
Tiling: In some cases you should rip out your carpet and put in tiles. Generally these are recommended for the kitchen and bathroom. You’ll have a range of options of textures and color when tiling your floor so it’s important to make sure it matches the theme and style of the room.
Install new light fixtures: Light fixtures tell a lot about a houses age, so it’s important to have more modern looking fixtures to make the house seem newer.
Remodel Your Kitchen or Bathroom For The Best ROI!
December 7, 2008
Trying to decide which home improvement project to tackle next? To start you must decide if you are remodeling to improve an area of your home that is in need of some TLC or if you are remodeling to maximize your Return On Investment (ROI). If a specific area in your home needs TLC then your decision is straight forward. However, if all areas of your home are in decent shape and you are looking to maximize your investment in your home then your decision is a little easier.
To get the greatest return on your money, without adding additional square footage to your home, you should consider remodeling your kitchen. On average a Kitchen Remodel will yield an ROI of 80-100%! This is an amazing rate of return on any investment, but the added bonus is that as a homeowner you get to enjoy the benefits of your Kitchen Remodel until you sell your home.
Buying Replacement Windows
December 6, 2008
While most buyers of double glazing are looking for replacement windows to help reduce their energy costs, or because their old windows are rattling in their frames, there’s a whole class of buyers who are ‘trading up’ - replacing perfectly good window frames for the sake of having the windows they want. They may be looking to replace all of their windows with a different style, or trying to restore their home to its architectural period.
And then there are the homes that were fitted with the first wave of double glazed windows in the 1960s and 1970s. The original windows that featured double glazing as an energy saving measure were aluminum framed and conformed to the best energy standards of their day. There have been enormous advances since then - in materials, techniques and styles. For many people, it’s time to upgrade to the new standards, even if the old windows are still holding firm.
Laminate Flooring Basics
December 5, 2008
Laminate flooring resembles the look of hardwoods but offers easier installation and stronger durability. You can use laminate flooring in any room in the house, including hallways, foyers and family spaces, bathrooms, and kitchens. While hardwood floors are always vulnerable to evils like sand, spills, messy kids, and pets, laminates are better designed to withstand the trauma of daily life.
On the surface, you might mistake laminate flooring for hardwood. They look almost identical. What looks like natural hardwood is actually a layer of paper sealed below a super tough protective film that is then pressed and glued to a backing board.
When choosing a flooring material, a critical factor to consider is the amount of expected traffic. Durability the major advantage held by laminate flooring over hardwoods. Because of the high-density backing board, laminates are resistant to scrapes, cuts, and punctures. The high-pressure laminate coating will prevent stains from seeping through and damaging the floor. Sliding chairs and heavy falling objects that would normally dent or gouge a hole in hardwood will have no affect on laminate flooring.
How to Replace the Rollers on Your Patio Sliding Glass Glass Door
December 4, 2008
Hiring a professional to replace your rollers could cost you around $100 not including the cost of the replacement parts. Below are detailed steps containing all the information you will need to know to replace your patio sliding glass door rollers yourself.
* Before you start, understand that you need to take the sliding glass door out of its frame to work on the rollers. The sliding glass door is heavy. You may need the assistance of another to help you remove the door.
1) Your patio glass door will have two separate glass units. One unit is the door that you slide and the other unit is stationary. First, stand outside your house and look at your sliding glass door. If the stationary unit is between you and the sliding unit you will most likely have to remove the stationary unit so that you can get to the glass sliding unit.
Before you go through the trouble of removing the stationary unit, first try to go inside your house and see if you can remove the sliding unit. Usually you cannot because there is a lip along the bottom of the patio glass door frame (it keeps moisture out of the house) that prevents the sliding glass door from being removed from the inside.
